Deven: The Seventh Star

By Arthur Grant

The story of Deven: The Seventh Star is a Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets Harry Potter, splashed with Percy Jackson, hybrid. Deven, a small-town South Dakota kid discovers a universal secret that he inherits on his thirteenth birthday, and Deven's quiet world is about to get dramatically rocked. This inheritance includes extraordinary, one-of-a-kind

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stratton Press
• Release date: Aug 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781648951190

Arthur Grant

Arthur Grant has worked in the education industry since 2002. Currently living in Houston, Texas, he received his BA in marketing from Texas Southern University and his MEd from the University of St. Thomas. He began his career as a special education teacher, college advocate, special education department chairperson, educational diagnostician, and regional manager for an assessment consulting company. He has worked with underprivileged youth in low-socioeconomic areas his entire career. He discovered a huge achievement gap in reading between males and females. His experience showed him that males in this age range go through so many changes and academics are quickly put to the side, especially the foundation academic skill of reading. His initial focus was improving the reading interest of these males, but the story of Deven quickly evolved into a heartwarming adventure for all.

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Arthur Grant

Deven: The Seventh Star

Copyright © 2020 Arthur Grant

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Stratton Press Publishing

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ISBN (Paperback): 978-1-64895-118-3

ISBN (Ebook): 978-1-64895-119-0

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 1

Protons, neutrons, blah, blah, blah.

Deven, I am with you, the voice says loudly. It’s booming and actually awakens Deven. Mr. Godfrey, his science teacher, had slowly put him to sleep talking about neutrons and protons.

Blah, blah, blah. It all sounds the same, he thinks to himself. How many times is he gonna say the same thing over and over? And I still don’t get it. Plus, the fact that Mr. Godfrey walks and talks like a monotone android doesn’t help the case. Mr. Godfrey is a nice teacher, but he’s outdated, like a cell phone with no text. In fact, he talks about how he still doesn’t know how to send texts from his phone. He still uses a beeper. I know I’m only twelve and a half years old and in the seventh grade, but how many years ago did people use beepers? Was it during the Civil War? Nah, it can’t be that long ago. That’s over a hundred years ago! But that may be right. Old man Godfrey is at least ninety-nine, he continues to joke to himself.

Old man Godfrey, the name given to him by his students, wears tweed blazers with a sweater vest, and he even wears it during the spring. The fact that he never breaks a sweat regardless of the temperature is amazing. He also sports shiny big black horn-rimmed glasses. The big lights in the ceiling reflect off them and always make his old wrinkled eyes seem bright and youthful. The scent of fresh-brewed coffee always fills his room. Old man Godfrey’s ancient style of teaching doesn’t help the modern student of today. It makes students like Deven, who don’t like science, hate science. The only science he understands is the internet. Like most kids his age, he is fascinated with technology and all the many gadgets and games there are. It is hard for him to grasp the idea of our bodies being made of parts that are electrical. He can’t wrap his mind around the fact that we are just muscles being charged by electrical energy. The only electrical energy he understands is wireless joysticks to video game systems.

Rinnnnnnnnng! the bell sounds.

Finally, all this talk of energy has made me hungry for my favorite energy—pizza! he says to himself. He hurriedly throws his backpack on his shoulder and files in line with the stampede of students leaving the classroom. While he is walking through the door, he glances back at his desk and notices that he has left a piece of paper on his desk. He has been jotting notes and rushes back to get them. To his surprise, the page is half full. This has been the most he has written since the class entered the world of protons, electrons, and neutrons. As he stands there skimming what he has written, he notices a phrase at the end. I am with you, say the scribbled words in capital letters. Then he remembers he heard a voice say that same phrase. Standing there, puzzled, he thinks that it must be a science fairy trying to help him with science. He laughs and says out loud, Thank you, science fairy! Where have you been?

Deven Sanders, what are you doing? says a voice from the open classroom door. We’re gonna be late for lunch, and you know my stomach will be angry if I’m late for pizza day!

It’s Jordy, Deven’s best friend. His full name is Jordan McCall, but everyone calls him Jordy. They have known each other since the first grade. They live on the same street. Deven moved to Jordy’s neighborhood in the suburban area of Angel Lake with his father, Deven Sr., and stepmother, Kathy.

Angel Lake isn’t a big city, but it isn’t a small town either. It has about one hundred thousand residents. It’s a great area to raise a family. It has plenty of schools and a low crime rate. There are people from all corners of the globe living there. The different cultures and nationalities add flavor to the area. People proudly and peacefully represent their heritage, so it brings a piece of their home right into the area. Angel Lake has carnivals and festivals year-round, showcasing its unique population. Most of the people there know one another, and this makes it feel like one big family. Jordy came into Deven’s life with perfect timing. Deven’s mother, Naomi, died in a car accident when he was three years old. Deven’s father had just remarried, and Deven felt like his dad was starting over without him. Deven was young, but even a six-year-old can sense a shift in attention. His dad really loves Kathy, and Deven doesn’t understand how he could love another woman so quickly. Deven still has memories of his mother’s touch and smile. His dad is all he has, even though he is barely at home. Deven doesn’t have any other family. His grandparents from both sides had passed on before he was born, and both his parents were the only children. So Devin has no aunts, uncles, or any cousins. His dad is a CIA agent, and he is gone often on assignments. Lately, Deven has been seeing his mother’s face in his dreams, even having conversations with her, but he can’t remember any topics. Deven has had this void in his life for some time now. He really misses her during holidays and school events. His stepmother started coming around shortly after his mom died. His dad dated her for a few years, and they got married when Deven was six. She has always been distant with him. They haven’t made a real connection. She has been cold to Deven, especially when his dad isn’t around, but she turns on like a neon light when his dad is home. Deven feels like she puts up with him because of her love for his dad. He tries to explain this to his dad, but his dad thinks it’s because of the disappointment of not getting a chance to know his mother. Deven tries to explain that it’s more than that, especially of late; she seems snappier and meaner. She’s almost becoming hostile. Jordy is his escape from the madness. He has always been his way out from his stepmother. Deven has been escaping to his house since the first grade. When his dad isn’t in town, he spends a lot of time at Jordy’s. They have had a million sleepovers at Jordy’s house, but Jordy’s parents don’t mind. They have grown to love Deven over the years. They seem to sympathize with him because of the circumstances surrounding his birth mother. Jordy’s mother is always warm to Deven, and that means a lot to him. He really appreciates her kindness, and he understands it more as he gets older. The extra cookies and pieces of fruit that Jordy brings to lunch, the Christmas gifts, and the personal pair of pajamas that stay at Jordy’s house let him know that the McCalls’ door is always open. He will always have a place away from home. Mr. McCall is very cool with Deven as well. He gets Deven a ticket when they go to local games, brings him along for camping trips, and even has some one-on-one talks with him every once in a while. Mr. Sanders is very appreciative of the support and returns the favors whenever he is in town. So everyone has an understanding, except for Deven’s stepmother. She doesn’t communicate with the McCalls when Mr. Sanders is out of town. She doesn’t go out much either. She isn’t a mother and isn’t interested in having any children, which Mr. Sanders doesn’t approve of. He wants to have at least two more children. This is the only topic that Deven and Kathy see eye to eye on. The last thing he wants is a little brother or sister to bug him twenty-four hours a day. He’s cool with the no more kids subject.

Back in the cafeteria of Grant Middle School, the two boys are standing in line for lunch. This is the only day that they have not brought their lunches. Most of the students don’t bring their lunches on the best day of the week, which is Friday, pizza day. The line is long, and the cafeteria is alive. Did you take notes in old man Godfrey’s class? Jordy asks Deven.

Yeah, and I broke a record—I got a half page! Deven replies sarcastically.

Great! Your record is my record! Can I get those, please? Jordy says, with his hand extended.

Only if I can get half of your pizza, replies Deven with an offer.

Jordy stands there with his mouth open and gives Deven an I can’t believe you just said that look. He responds with I would rather give you half of my arm.

Both boys laugh as they grab their trays and scan the cafeteria for a table to sit at.

They see Miya standing and waving her arm. Deven, Jordy, over here. Miya is their new friend. She came to the school last year, and they met her in science class. They worked together on a group project for the science fair, and they won second place. Miya came up with the idea of building an erupting volcano. The lava was made with food coloring and baking soda. She is really smart, and she always makes the honor roll. After the science fair, they instantly became friends. Miya’s parents were in the military, and she moved around a lot before she came to their school. Her father is retired from the military, and they seem to have settled in the area for now. She is the youngest of five children, and she’s the only child left at home. Her elder brothers and sisters have either graduated from college or are still attending. Miya isn’t your typical twelve-year-old girl. She isn’t really into makeup and girly things. She likes skateboarding, attends karate classes, rides motorcycles, plays basketball and video games. She is really popular with the faculty because of her grades and equally popular with the students because of her many different interests. She has made a name for herself very quickly.

How was old man Godfrey’s class? asks Deven.

Easy. I love protons, electrons, and neutrons. I love learning about the different types of cell energies, she says with confidence.

Jordy looks at her like she’s speaking French. Cool, so we can cheat off your—I mean, study with you, Jordy replies with a mouthful of pizza.

No problem, guys, but I need something from you both to help me, she says while looking them both in the eye.

Whatever you need. What is it? says Deven.

I need half of your slices of pizza! she says as she laughs.

Jordy hurriedly stuffs his last slice into his mouth and puts both hands in the air and says, his voice muffled, What pizza?

The bell rings, and lunch is over. They have two more classes left, and one is the boys’ favorite. Deven and Jordy have history together, and their teacher is Ms. Danielle Rose. They love history, but not because of the worldly travels they take when they open their textbooks. It’s the way Ms. Rose bats her eyes and smiles when she says their names. She is the new teacher on campus. She is twenty-three years old, fresh out of college, and to the young male students, her age is perfect for them. All of them think they have a chance, and most of them have made plans to boldly ask her to the eighth-grade dance. They sit there and gaze with their mouths open as she speaks. They inhale her sweet, flowery scent as she walks up and down the aisles. They think her voice sounds likes the heavens opening and angels singing. They don’t have to take notes in Ms. Rose’s class because they hang on to every word she says. They have passed with As the whole year in her class.

So who can tell me the time frame of President Lincoln’s term? asks Ms. Rose as she scans the room. Deven, how about you?

Uh…oh…um can you repeat the question? says Deven as he stumbles out of his trance.

Quickly realizing what’s going on, she turns her attention to Jordy. Um…let’s see…Jordan, can you help Deven out, please?

Jordy’s gaze is even more intense than Deven’s as he fumbles into his awkward answer: He is on a penny?

The class erupts into laughter.

What did I do? asks Jordy, embarrassingly drowning in confusion. After they have listened to Ms. Rose talk and smile for an hour, their Friday is complete, even though they have one more class left. They sit in Mrs. Studebaker’s English class like rocks. Their bodies are there, but their minds are still in Ms. Rose’s class. Unfortunately, their grades show it. Deven is barely over a C average for the year, and Jordy’s grade has dropped to a D+ on his last report card. Finally, the bell rings for dismissal, and school is over. This weekend is a little different. They don’t have to come back for a week. Ulysses S. Grant Middle School is on spring break.

Chapter 2

Nightmare Come True

Let’s go! Jordy screams as he runs out the front door of the school, heading toward the buses.

All kids look forward to spring break. It’s not summer break, but it’s a small reminder that summer is just around the corner. They plan to be at home, eating ice cream sandwiches and playing video games. They don’t have any special plans, yet this weekend is a special one. It’s Deven’s thirteenth birthday. Deven, Jordy, and Miya exit the bus on the corner of Deven’s street.

So, Deven, it’s the big one-three. Any plans? asks Miya.

No, not yet, we’ll see what’s up when my dad gets here.

Cool. Keep me posted, says Miya as she detours and heads home.

Jordy and Deven head to Deven’s house because his dad is on the way home from an assignment. Deven’s house feels like home when Mr. Sanders is there. The boys are absorbed in an intense football video game called Smash Blitz when they are interrupted by Kathy. Deven, it’s time to clean up this mess. Your father will be home any minute, she says as she sternly points to ice cream sandwich wrappers littered over the couch.

Okay, says Deven as he continues to stare at the screen, barely giving a reaction.

Deven, I meant right now! barks Kathy from the kitchen.

The boys pause the game and stare at each other with an I can’t believe this look on their faces.

Whoaaa! Somebody needs a hug! What was that? asks Jordy as he reaches for his pile of ice cream sandwich wrappers.

That’s every day, all day, and that is why I’m always at your house! says Deven as he takes the ice cream wrappers from Jordy.

Where was your dad again? asks Jordy.

I don’t know. Somewhere saving the world, Deven replies in a solemn voice.

Well, he needs to hurry and come save us! Jordy says sarcastically. The boys finish cleaning their mess, and Jordy gets ready to head home.

Don’t forget to call when your dad gets here. I can’t wait to hear about this trip! You know he did something crazy! says Jordy as he walks out.

Just as Mr. McCall treats Deven as one of his own, Mr. Sanders does the same of Jordy. He loves talking to the boys. He views them as brothers and always asks for Jordy when he is home. An hour or two has passed, and Deven has retreated back to his bedroom to continue his video game as Kathy continues to prepare dinner.